News

Leisure programmes for youth in Sant Ferran

Wednesday, 23 August 2017 19:13

Foto animacio joventut sant ferran This July and August, the Formentera Council's Office of Social Welfare is working on a way to take culture, sports and recreation to playground audiences. Since September of last year, the programme has seen the Council partner with the administration of Sant Ferran's primary school to stage activities for young children and teens on school grounds.

As part of the partnership, the Council enlists staff to open the play park and sports fields in the Sant Ferran school courtyard for the town's youngsters. Two monitors keep watch every afternoon from Monday to Saturday, giving structure to matches of football, ping-pong, basketball and badminton and overseeing children's games, film screenings, workshops and cycling outings.

Department secretary Vanessa Parellada pointed to soaring use and attendance as proof of the popularity of the service. It will run through winter, although hours will be tweaked according to changes in the timetable of the school's on-site municipal library.

Islanders increasingly using waste treatment plant

Tuesday, 22 August 2017 18:45

Foto Deixalleria seccio poda The Formentera Council's Office of Environment has released figures for the island's waste treatment plant showing that, although the Deixalleria logged 10,420 visits last year, the 5,956 rubbish drop-offs registered during the first half of 2017 represent an increase of 508. This year, operators at the plant have reported an average of 39 daily visits, up from 35.5 a day in 2017.

For environment secretary Daisee Aguilera, the figures are a clear indication that the Deixalleria, a facility built in May 2015, “is now a fixture on the island”. The plant accepts garden trimmings, building waste and scrap metal.

Furniture and appliance pickup
According to Aguilera, home pickup of large appliances and furniture is another service whose role on the island has become consolidated. Operators called on 414 homes in the first six months of the year, 76 more than the same period in 2016, when the service reported 338 house calls. A spike in use of the service is pointed up by figures from the two years prior: in 2015 and 2014, pickups totalled 113 and 63, respectively. The telephone number to request the free service is 900.102.656.

The secretary took the opportunity to once again urge Formentera residents to do their part in improving local waste treatment, “for a cleaner island that's both environmentally and economically more sustainable”.

The Deixalleria, located at Formentera's industrial park on the Sant Francesc-La Mola highway, opened in May 2015. All special waste—anything not disposable at street-side bins—should be taken there, Monday to Saturday, 9.00am to 1.30pm, and Monday to Friday, 3.30pm to 5.30pm.

Formentera stands with Barcelona

Friday, 18 August 2017 18:39

Foto minut de silenci In observing a minute of silence outside the steps of the Casa Consistorial at 12 noon today, the women and men of the Formentera Council wished to express their sorrow following the attack that shook Barcelona yesterday and show solidarity with the victims and their families.

Municipal pool opens enrolment for 2016-2017 classes

Monday, 21 August 2017 17:58

natacio The Formentera Council's Office of Sport wishes to announce the start, from today, of registration for swimming courses at the municipal swimming pool. Signups will be held at Antoni Blanc fitness centre from Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 10.00pm.

Groups will be formed based on age, with one cohort of 2 to 12 year olds, another for swimmers over 12, and groups for expecting mothers, aquafitness and light gymnastics. Roughly 275 students—adults and children—are expected in total.

Classes, held afternoons from Monday to Friday and between 30 and 45 minutes in length, begin September 13 and run through June.

Swimming classes for newborns
This year, for the first time, the pool is offering two monthly infant swimming lessons at no charge. Two Saturday sessions, at 10.30am and 11.00am, will be available to newborns and their accompanying guardian, although interested individuals must reserve in advance at the front desk of the sports centre. During the first term, classes will go September 9-23, October 7-21, November 4-18 and December 2-16.

Half of Es Molí's energy needs met by solar power

Thursday, 17 August 2017 21:30

Foto edifici es moli The Formentera Council has commissioned the fitting of 20 solar panels at Es Molí. It is hoped the installation will enable the social centre, which houses the island's youth centre—el Casal de Joves—and Ràdio Illa, to generate 50 per cent of the building's annual energy needs of 19,265 kWh.

Including VAT, the project had a price tag of €15,795.34. Five thousand of that amount was covered with funding from the European Union's European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), distributed by the Govern. The remainder of the tab was picked up by the Council.

With the executive branch of the Balearic government currently offering local administrations a new line of subsidies, the Council is currently preparing its application—due November 3—in an effort to expand renewable energy across CiF facilities.

Funding for private citizens and businesses
Stressing the importance of Formentera's gradual shift toward sustainable energy solutions, Environment secretary Daisee Aguilera pointed to a new kind of subsidies that the Govern balear offers individuals, non-profits, businesses and business associations to promote solar panel installations.

Private households stand to receive 50% off solar panel installations that generate up to 3kW power, at a maximum cost of €1.50/W. The funding maxes out at €2,250. For businesses, for whom subsidies can cover up to 40% of installations generating 30kW, funding can go as high as €18,000. Applications will be accepted until September 1.

Complete information on the funding, as well as the application, can be found at http://www.caib.es/govern/sac/fitxa.do?codi=2229301&coduo=2390767&lang=ca

Another subsidy offered by the Govern, promoting taxis that are either electric, plug-in hybrids, produce reduced emissions or run on compressed natural gas or liquified petroleum gas, can be requested until October 11. That information, and the application, is available at http://www.caib.es/govern/sac/fitxa.do?codi=2319379&coduo=2390767&lang=ca